LInux and Thinkpad (esp. Z60m)

Like others, I am turning away from Windows for Linux and I don't have any experience with Linux so far. I'd like a really easy, straight-forward distro to start with for two reasons: so I can convince others that LInux isn't only for computer experts and so I can disprove everyone who complains when I mention linux that it's a horrible idea b/c I'm not seen as a computer expert (I study in the humanities and somehow that makes me incompetent).

The Situation:

All I do on the computer can be listed -

Word-process, spread-sheets, other Windows Office like tasks

surf the net (requires Quikctime and Windows Media abilities)

print and download Adobe Acrobat files by the busload

RealPlayer

WindowsMedia Player (I have 40 gigs of music in .wma format that I would like to leave like that)

edit digital photos from family and friends

AOL instant messanger and Google Talk

Print to an HP 1510 Printer.

Watch the occasional DVD and burn the occassional CD

I don't play any games

THE COMPUTER:

Right now I have an old, old Toshiba satellite 1113 and would like to trade it in for a Thinkpad. I'd like a durable Thinkpad with a 15.4 inch screen and an 80 GB harddrive for around 1500 ... up to 2000 max.

I'm thinking of buying this one now while it's on sale:
Z60m

http://www-131.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/s...storeId=10000001&langId=-1&partNumber=2529E9U

it has a 5400 rpm 80 GB harddrive
Intel Pentium 760
512 Mb DDRam (should I get 1 Gb?)
15.4 '' TFT screen
Bluetooth

BUT:
It has a freaking ATI Graphics Card
ATI Mobility RADEON x600
and Intel PRO/Wireless 2915ABG

QUESTION:

So far Xandros seems like the best distro for me (I was also considering Linspire). Would it be compatible with the ATI card? Can it do everything I want with this computer? How would this wireless hold up? Would someone suggest another, equally easy Linux distro for my needs? Should I get a different thinkpad?

THANK YOU!

 

I have heard Xandros is very easy to use. I have not used it myself. Unbuntu works great out of the box on my T42. I think there is supposed to be a big update soon.

 

I never tried it, but Ubuntu with the Kubuntu interface is really popular for a reason.

 

is Ubuntu as easy as Xandros though? Will it play .wma files or convert them easily and play them?

 

Probably not without installing some other software.

 

well, I'm a mechanical engineer, and I lived with a Comp Sci grad student, a Comp Sci/Comp Sys dual major undergrad, and 2 IT undergrads for 3 years while at school. I won't touch linux now that I moved away, every time they wanted to upgrade something it took close to a day with all the kernal upgrades, recompiling, etc.

 

I really like Ubuntu the more I check it out ... I'm just worried that its use of .wma files is going to be really tricky, even if I reformat them all. If I were to get Crossover office with Ubuntu, could I completely solve this problem by just running windows media player until I figure out how to use MPlayer or something with .wma?

 

The forums over on Unbuntu.org are a good resource.

 

You just need the right stuff to play wma files with. Take a look around and you'll find stuff. However, if the wma files are licensed from a music service like Napster, they will not play on any Linux machine, just like playing something from iTunes (acc) will not play on any portable device but an iPod. I'm pretty sure the popular XMMS player has a plugin for unlicensed wma (very similar to Winamp).

Linux is a big leap, I've used it for years. I do feel it is more mature than some people let on. I *never* have recompiled a kernel for my Fedora Core 3 box, and I have dealt with difficult things like a TV tuner, a WinCE device, and FireWire plug-n-play drives. It isn't Windows or a Mac though.

 

Suse is quite good at multimedia support, it takes a couple steps to turn it into a robust multimedia workstation. google "hacking opensuse" and you'll know what I mean. Also latest version of opensuse has Xen, XGL and all the other goodies as well.

wma, wmv and almost all others are supported by codec pack that is installed for Mplayer. I havent had a single multimedia file fail me so far and I'm on SuSE 9.3...